Much like "45", what comes out of my mouth, is clearly NOT what I will end up doing. So when I babble alternative facts about not getting any more peonies, just nod your head and say "Yeah, right", under your breath. You can't believe a word I say!

As is annually prescribed, Alan and Anita and I went to Adleman Peony Gardens opening weekend this year April 29th. It was interesting in that almost none of the plants were blooming, even in the display garden, so we had to pick plants in bud. Our cold, wet spring had all the plants on a delay. The bonus, however, was getting to see all the buds open at home and be able to enjoy the first year of flowers.

I said I wouldn't get any new babies. I came home with seven. Two or three might
have been what a "normal" person would have come home with. Oops!

I've always wanted one of the really dark chocolate red peonies and finally came home with 'Buckeye Belle'. Also coming home with me this year were more lactiflora type peonies: 'Belleville', 'Fairy Princess', 'Paula Fay', 'Pink Teacup', 'Salmon Dream', and 'Stellar Charm'. I tried to mix up the colors a bit.

In order to incorporate these new plants, and after some debate, an extension on an existing flower bed had to be made. The little flower bed with Cercis canadensis 'Merlot' was too small anyway, so the enlarged bed turned out great.

I was lucky enough to "persuade" (con) Alan of the Mardi Gras Gardener into grabbing a shovel and helping dig grass, while I bashed clumps of sod to get the dirt off.

The new extension looks a much more appropriate size with the tree now as the focal point and it balances the yard out and gives that side of the garden more paths of grass. See how easily I can justify this in my brain?

Some of the existing plants that were cramscaped into the original bed got moved out into the new space. I did need to buy a few plants that bloom all summer to fill in the spaces after the peonies are no longer showy.

The before - The tiny bed with Cercis canadensis 'Merlot'

The "help" resting.

The after.

This post has pics of some new and some old peonies. There are still so many to open.

5 comments:

Look at all that lawn that can be further converted into room for more peonies. Yours are so beautiful. Nigel knows well not to believe me when I say I'm going to a plant sale, but that I'll only buy a few things. I love peonies too, but they're not my weakness. If I get near a Dahlia sale in the fall I have a tendency to go wild.

The enlarged bed looks fantastic and, like Alison and Hoov, I see lots of room for more. Why say no to such beauty when yes is such a positive response? As for "normal" let's just forget that silliness. Since peonies live so long, just think of the gift you're giving to the future. It's our duty to stimulate the economy by buying more plants so kudos to you for your valiant contribution!